Flying archery target



Dec. 19, 1967 SCHREIBER 3,359,000

FLYING ARCHERY TARGET Filed April 8, 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,359,000 FLYING ARCHERY TARGET Richard A. Schreiber, Plainfield, Wis. (711 Pflaum Road, Madison, Wis. 53716) Filed Apr. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 446,609 Claims. (Cl. 273105.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A target adapted to be sailed through the air for archery practice having substantially identical conical top and bottom portions enclosing filler material to absorb the impact of an arrow and a landing guard attached about the periphery of the body portions by a plurality of radially extended connecting portions.

This invention relates to flying targets and more particularly to a re-usable, three-dimensional archery target which is adapted to be thrown into the air.

It is an object of my invention to provide a threedimensional flying archery target which while airborne, continuously presents a target surface to the archer regardless of the angle at which it is flying.

It is another object of my invention to provide a reusable flying archery target which will not shatter upon being struck with an arrow nor will it be damaged upon striking the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flying archery target which will retain the arrows which pierce it and which will be quickly brought to the ground thereby.

Another object of my invention is to provide a reusable flying archery target which has a resilient protective landing guard spaced outwardly about the body of the target to absorb the impact upon striking the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flying archery target having a body portion constructed of reinforced paperboard.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive flying archery target having an easily replaceable body portion.

Further objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred exemplary embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my new flying archery target.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my new flying archery target.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of my flying archery target taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing an arrow stuck therein.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of reinforced paperboard which may comprise the outer portion of the body of my target.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, my target is shown at in FIG. 1. As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, my target generally comprises a body portion 11 having top and bottom cone-shaped shells 12 and 13, respectively, enclosing relatively light-weight filler material 14, and a protective landing guard 15 spaced outwardly about the periphery of and attached to the body portion of the target by a plurality of connecting portions 16 extending from the top and bottom shells 12 and 13.

3,359,000 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 In the preferred form of target shown in the drawings, the shells 12 and 13 are made of generally rectangular paperboard blanks formed into cone-shaped shells. As best seen in FIG. 2, each shell is adhered together in a triangular overlapped area shown in phantom at 17 and 18. Preferably the overlapped triangular area 17 of the top shell 12 is diametrically opposite the overlapped triangular area 18 of the lower shell 13 to insure proper Weight distribution for flying. The shells 12 and 13 may be made of reinforced paperboard such as 19 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This form of reinforced paperboard comprises two layers of paper 20 and 21 lamented together with a checkerboard mesh of string 22 therebetween. The reinforcing mesh prevents the arrows from ripping large gashes in the paperboard shells. This preferred form of shell greatly enhances the useful life of the body portion of the target and allows it to be pierced many times before replacement is necessary.

While paperboard is the preferred material for the shells, it is understood that other suitable materials which can be easily pierced by arrows such as, plastic or the like, could be employed.

The filler material 14 comprising the bulk of the body portion of the target is provided for absorbing the impact of the arrows and for retaining the arrows in the target so that the target will be quickly brought to the ground when hit. The filler material 14 may be excelsior, foam polystyrene, or any other suitable lightweight material. The protective landing guard 15 is preferably made of a length of steel wire which is joined at its ends to form a resilient wire ring. The guard 15 could also be made of plastic or the like and have other cross-sectional shapes than the round wire shown. The guard is spaced outwardly about one inch from the periphery of the body portion. The resilient landing guard 15 acts as a bumper or shock absorber for preventing damage to the body portion of the target when it strikes the ground.

While various means of attaching the guard 15 may be employed, that shown in the drawings comprises a plurality of radially extending connecting portions 16 which are integral with the top and bottom shells. As best seen in FIG. 3 the bottom shell 13 has a protruding tab 23 which extends outwardly to the guard 15. The top shell 12 has a somewhat longer tab 24 which is folded around the guard 15 and secured to the underside of tab 23 by adhesive 25.

During the flight of the target, the connecting portions 16 provided by tabs 23 and 24 act as wings, depending on the size of their surface area, which assist in keeping the target airborne. Connecting portions 16 also afford convenient means to be grasped between the thumb and forefinger for throwing the target into the air.

The shells 12 and 13 may be held together by tape 26 or other suitable means between the connecting portions 16. While five connecting portions or wings are shown in the drawings it is not intended to limit my target to this number of connecting portions.

After the body portion of the target has been pierced so many times that the holes in the shell portions 12 and 13 begin to hinder the sailing of the target, the shells may be quickly replaced. To replace the shells, the guard 15 is removed from between the connecting tabs 23 and 24 and the filler material 14 may be removed by separating the shells and the shells may then be discarded. The filler material may then be placed in a new bottom shell and a new top shell placed over it. The tabs 24 on the upper shell 12 are then folded around the landing guard and secured to the bottom surface of the tabs 23 on the lower shell 13. The tabs are preferably provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive which may be protected until use by a removable protective sheet in a conventional manner. The edges of the shells between the connecting portions 16 may then be taped together, if desired.

It is apparent that my novel flying target is relatively inexpensive, yet durable and longlasting. When the shell portions of the body of the target become so perforated as to interfere with the flight of the target, they may be :quickly replaced without having to replace the remaining portions of the target.

It is understood that my invention is not confined to the particular construction, arrangement of parts, or materials herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof, as may come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A flying archery target comprising:

(a) a body portion having substantially identical conical top and bottom portions enclosing filler material for absorbing the impact of an arrow, and

(b) 'a landing guard spaced outwardly about the periphery of and attached to said body portion by a plurality of outwardly extending connecting portions.

2. A flying archery target comprising:

(a) a body portion having substantially identical conical paperboard top and bottom shell portions enclosing filler material for absorbing the impact of an arrow, and

(b) a resilient landing guard spaced outwardly about the periphery of and attached to said body portion by a plurality of outwardly extending connecting portions.

3. The re-usable flying archery target as specified in e claim 2 wherein said paperboard shell portions are reinforced with a string mesh.

4. A flying archery target comprising:

(a) a body portion having substantially identical conical paperboard top and bottom portions filled with bulk material for absorbing the impact of an arrow, and

(b) a resilient wire landing guard spaced outwardly about the periphery of said body portion and detachably attached to said body portion by a plurality of radially extending paperboard connecting portions.

5. A flying archery target comprising:

(a) a body portion having substantially identical conical top and bottom portions, and

(b) a resilient steel wire landing guard spaced outwardly about periphery of said body portion and being detachably attached thereto by a plurality of radially extending connecting portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 291,287 1/1884 Briggs 273-105.4 1,332,175 2/1920 Hashimoto 46-83 3,185,480 5/1965 Weyman et al. 273--l05.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 379,691 1908 France.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLYING ARCHERY TARGET COMPRISING: (A) A BODY PORTION HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL CONICAL TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS ENCLOSING FILLER MATERIAL FOR ABSORBING THE IMPACT OF AN ARROW, AND (B) A LANDING GUARD SPACED OUTWARDLY ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF AND ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTION BY A PLURALITY OF OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CONNECTION PORTIONS. 